The MacDonnell Ranges, or Tjoritja in Arrernte, is a mountain range located in southern Northern Territory. MacDonnell Ranges is also the name given to an interim Australian bioregion broadly encompassing the mountain range, with an area of 3,929,444 hectares (9,709,870 acres).[1][2] The range is a 644 km (400 mi) long series of mountains in central Australia, consisting of parallel ridges running to the east and west of Alice Springs. The mountain range contains many spectacular gaps and gorges as well as areas of Aboriginal significance.
Some 300-350 million years ago a mountain building event created the MacDonnell Ranges.[4] Since that time, folding, faulting and erosion have shaped the range and created numerous gaps and gorges.[4][5] The ranges are composed of many rock types, but are most famous for their red quartzite peaks and gorges. Other rock types include granite, limestone, sandstone and siltstone.[5] Some of the valleys of the range contain fossil evidence of the inland sea that once covered central Australia.[5]
Ecology
Part of the Central Ranges xeric scrubecoregion of dry scrubby grassland,[6] the ranges are home to a large number of endemic species that includes the centralian tree frog Litoria gilleni. This is mostly due to the micro climates that are found around the cold rock pools.
Tourist attractions
The West MacDonnell National Park was established in 1984 to protect the numerous parks and reserves of the range, including internal residents inside the range.[5] It also facilitated the development of the Larapinta Trail.
^World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Central Ranges xeric scrub". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010.